Tri-kāla Devī

Tri-kāla Devī is the supreme threefold devī. In her main form she is also called Sṛṣṭi Devī. She arose from the joined yogic gaze of Brahmā, Bhagavān Viṣṇu and Bhagavān Śiva at Kailāsa. She holds all three divine śaktis (powers): sṛṣṭi (creation), sthiti (preservation) and saṃhāra (dissolution). She is at once Sarasvatī of Brahmā, Vaiṣṇavī of Bhagavān Viṣṇu and Cāmuṇḍā of Rudra.

The Varāha Mahā Purāṇa presents her as the one root power from which all creation, upkeep and destruction come. She is one in her highest tattva (nature), yet threefold in her work.

The birth of Tri-kāla Devī

One day Brahmā came to the shining peak of Kailāsa with all the devas. He came to meet the great Bhagavān Śiva, who sat in his assembly of bhūta-gaṇas (his attendants) with Gaurī. Bhagavān Viṣṇu also appeared between them. The three great devas, Brahmā, Bhagavān Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, stood in one place and looked at one another with a quiet, yogic gaze.

At that moment a luminous maiden was born from the joining of their three gazes. She was a divine kumārī (girl) of three colours: white (śukla), red (rakta) and black (kṛṣṇa). She had dark eyes like lotus petals, wavy black hair, a fine nose, a shining brow and a lovely face. All the ideal marks of divine beauty described in the śāstras were seen together in her, as if gathered from all three worlds.

The Trimūrti (the three forms Brahmā, Bhagavān Viṣṇu and Bhagavān Śiva) asked her: “Who are you? What do you want?” She replied: “O great ones! I was born from the yoga of your three gazes. Do you not know me? I am your own Śakti, the Parameśvarī.” The three devas were glad and gave her varas (boons). They named her Tri-kāla and charged her to protect this universe in all times. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 89–95)

The three forms

Tri-kāla Devī then divided herself into three forms. Each is linked with one of the three guṇas and with one of the Trimūrti.

The white form: Sṛṣṭi Devī, Vāgeśa, Sarasvatī

The white form is sāttvika. She is Sṛṣṭi-mātā, the mother of creation. She is called Vāgeśa, Sarasvatī, Vidyeśvarī, Amitākṣara, Jñānavidhi and Vibhāvarī. All sāttvika, auspicious names are her names. Her work is prajā-sṛṣṭi, the making of living beings. She is the single first syllable that holds all syllables. Brahmā gave her the vara of sarvagatatva (being everywhere). She then merged into his lap, and from that moment creation flourished. The Mānasaputras, the Saptaṛṣis and the four kinds of living beings all came forth.

The red form: Vaiṣṇavī

The red form is rājasika. She is Vaiṣṇavī, who carries the śaṅkha (conch) and the cakra (discus). She is known as Viṣṇu-māyā, and her work is sthiti, the keeping of the cosmos. She went to Mandara mountain and performed tapas (austerity). She built a divine city and raised her army of kanyā-gaṇas (maidens). She slew Mahiṣāsura after a war that lasted ten thousand divine years.

The black form: Raudrī, Cāmuṇḍā

The dark-blue form is tāmasika. She is Cāmuṇḍā, also called Raudrī, Kālarātrī and Tāmasī. She carried the triśūla (trident) and went to Nīlagiri mountain. There she performed pañcāgni tapas (austerity between five fires), defeated the asura Ruru, and won the name Cāmuṇḍā by tearing away his skin and skull. Her work is saṃhāra, the dissolution of the created world.

(Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 89–95)

The teaching of one Śakti in three forms

In the Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Bhagavān Varāha teaches that the one supreme Parameśvara becomes threefold as Brahmā, Bhagavān Viṣṇu and Rudra according to the three guṇas. In the same way the one Śakti becomes threefold as Sṛṣṭi-mātā, Vaiṣṇavī and Raudrī. The text says:

“Just as the paramātman who is one became threefold for different purposes, similarly this single śakti became threefold according to purpose.”

The three together are called the Tri-śakti. The Purāṇa says that whoever knows the threefold birth of the Devī is freed from all pāpa (sin) and reaches parama-nirvāṇa (the highest liberation). (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 89–95)

Days of pūjā

The text prescribes pūjā on Navamī, Aṣṭamī and Caturdaśī for those who have lost their kingdoms or seek protection. It says that any king who fasts on these tithis (lunar days) with faith and purity will win back a kingdom free of trouble within one year. Reciting the threefold account of this Devī cleanses both the reciter and the listener of all pāpa. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 89–95)

Sources

• Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 89–95